The Georgia Department of Labor announced that the preliminary unemployment rate in metro Atlanta declined to 8.9 percent in August, down three-tenths of a percentage point from 9.2 percent in July.

The rate was 9.9 percent in August 2011.

The rate decreased because there were 1,547 fewer layoffs in manufacturing, construction, administrative and support services, educational services, and health care and social assistance.

Also, the metro labor force declined by 23,505, partially because some students left summer jobs to return to school.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 9.2 percent in August, unchanged from July. The jobless rate was 9.9 percent in August a year ago.

The number of jobs in the state rose by 25,100, or six-tenths of a percentage point, from 3,914,100 in July to 3,939,200 in August. Georgia has created 49,700 jobs since August 2011 when there were 3,889,500 jobs.

In metro Atlanta, jobs increased to 2,339,000 in August, up by 12,400 from July, and up by 29,400 from 2,309,600 in August 2011.

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